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1968 "135" Mustangs

Limited 428 Cobra Jet Mustang production began with a run of 50 (enough to qualify for NHRA stock racing classes) non-GT fastbacks (body style 63A) that were scheduled for assembly at the Dearborn assembly plant on December 30, 1967. The VINs were serialized consecutively starting with 8F02R135007 and ending with 8F02R135056. All were painted Wimbledon White and equipped with a black vinyl interior (code 2A), heavy duty 4-speed manual transmission (code 5), manual drum brakes, and (code 7 (3.25:1) door tag code notwithstanding) a 3.89:1 rear axle ratio. 30 of the vehicles were assembled with seam sealer and sound deadener (noted by DSO code 844660) and 20 were built without seam sealer and sound deadener (noted by DSO code 844661).

The program was announced to dealers in a telegram sent from Jacque Passino to regional and district sales managers on December 26, 1967. Note that the telegram describes the DSO option numbers as 84-5660 and 84-5661, not 84-4660 and 84-4661.

The cars were eventually distributed for sale to a small number of dealers in the US and Canada. Several made their way into the hands of race teams, and two (8F02R135050 and 8F02R135054) were part of the contingent of six cars that introduced the 428 Cobra Jet to the world at the 1968 NHRA Winternationals.

These vehicles are sometimes referred to as "lightweights", but as noted above only 20 of the vehicles were produced without seam sealer and sound deadener. There were no other "tricks" (like aluminum or fiberglass body panels, cardboard trim panels, etc) employed to make the vehicles lighter.

The table below includes links to information describing each of the 50 vehicles. Many are still unaccounted for. Please contact us if you can help fill in the gaps.